SIM SWAP SCAM!!!!

When Emma Franks’ mobile phone stopped working she assumed there was a technical problem and called her provider, Vodafone. To her surprise she was told that her sim card had been changed. She was promised the mistake would be reversed and that her service would resume within two hours. It was two days later that Vodafone realised that sim card changes cannot be reversed and gave her a new card. Read more via this link:

http://lightinthewords.com/index.php/cybercrime/cybercrime-updates/63-sim-swap-scam

Knowing Times and Seasons by: Peter McArthur

Knowing Times and Seasons by: Peter McArthur

IS MY WIFE REAL OR A NIGERIAN LOVE SCAM!!!!

PHISHING SCAMS

Phishing emails are designed to trick the victims into thinking they are dealing with someone they know such as financial institutions, utilities companies (Gas, hydro telephone) and even government institutions. Scammers use this practice to infect victim computers with malware and to capture personal and financial information. The information captured is often used for financial gain, to obtain goods or services or to fund other criminal activities. In 2013 the CAFC saw a 23% increase in phishing reports from 2012.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Beware of unsolicited emails claiming to be from Hydro-Québec asking you to verify your account information, and often presenting an urgent situation requiring immediate attention.
• Watch for spelling and formatting errors in the supposed website.
• Check the embedded hyperlink in the suspicious email; it is not usually the actual address of the company or organization.
• Be wary of clicking on any attachments, they can contain viruses and spyware.
• Go with your gut. If an email seems fishy it probably is.

OVERVIEW

• In January 2011, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) started receiving a small number of complaints from Canadians reporting that had been deceived by e-commerce websites selling counterfeit or questionable goods. Subsequent follow up with some of the intellectual property holders found that there are thousands of fraudulent businesses selling counterfeit merchandise on the web.
• Fraudsters are spoofing legitimate retailers websites such as Canada Goose, Ugg Boots, Lululemon, Arcteryx, Michael Kors, Coach and many more. Fraudsters have become proficient in producing web sites that have the same look and feel as the legitimate manufacturer.
• In 2013, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received 1,143 complaints on deceptive marketing of counterfeit goods. Of the 1,143 complaints, 1,401 are classified as victims having a total reported dollar loss of $352,826.11 (average loss of $251.84 per victim).

WARNING SIGNS - HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Consumers should do their due diligence and thoroughly research an online store or website prior to making a purchase.
• Confirm that you are dealing with the actual manufacturer and look for any warnings posted on their site.
• Use a credit card when shopping online, customers are offered protection and may receive a refund.
• Inspect the web site thoroughly. Often counterfeit sites will contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
• Online manufacturers generally use their own company email account. If a web based email like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo is listed on the web site under their contact details, this is a red flag and further research is recommended.

If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 0r http://www.antifraudcentre.ca

SCAMMED AND DUPED

THE LOVE TRAP

Life entangles with mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable in our pursuits in as much we are still breathing. Many learn from errors of others in order not to fall victim of the same or similar mistakes. That is the essence of sharing personal experience so that other can learn from it. Sometimes we all need to take a "time out" to re-access our life and come up with a plan for our future. The world is waiting for us to be healed and when we are back on track, the world will embrace us again. Sharing your experience is significant in healing process and a great service to humanity, because no one can tell who your story will save next.

ONLINE DATING SCAMS: AUSTRALIANS LOSE $23M TO FRAUDSTERS!

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says internet dating scams accounted for 74percent of reports made to the organisation since August 2014, labelling romance cons the “CHIEF CULPRIT” of online frauds. Unlucky-in-love Aussies have lost more than $23m to fraudsters through online dating in the year 2014, the consumer watchdog says. Other common online scams identified by the ACCC related to jobs and investments (10%), unexpected prizes (10%) and unexpected money (6%).

Most victims of online dating scams started an online relationship which led them to send money overseas, ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said. Scammers targeted both men and woman, with fraudsters getting more techs savvy in targeting prospective victims. “Just over one third of these people were contacted by the scammers through social media channels,” she said in a statement. Scammers, many based in West Africa, often used stories about inheritances, gemstone dealings, gold bullion “or other unexplained wealth”. “These excuses and stories are designed to extract the maximum funds and commit the victim both financially and emotionally,” Rickard said.

Since August 2014, the ACCC said it has confirmed over 50 victims who have each lost about $34,000 each. The watchdog has also sent 1,500 letters to possible scam victims as part of its national scam disruption project. The crackdown comes after the ACCC in September conducted a snap review of 100 dating websites to check if they carried appropriate warnings about scams. Cyber safety consultant, Leonie Smith, said scammers were more likely to be active on platforms like Facebook and Twitter than on dedicated dating sites. “Use some of the more established dating sites if you want to look for love online,” Smith, of Cyber Safety Lady, said. It was also a good idea to confirm that an online profile did not use a photo copied from elsewhere on the internet. “You can actually download that picture and use Google image search to see if it pops up anyway else, that is a good step,” Smith said. Most importantly, Smith said, never hand over money or bank details to an online date. “That is when the alarm bells should ring,” she said. “You certainly should not be sending any money to someone you have not met face to face.

Culled from Guardian